Triplett denied bond, held for probation violation

Robert Triplett, the stepfather of missing Lowndes County woman Kaila Morris, was denied bond Tuesday in Lowndes County Justice Court after being arrested Saturday on charges of exploitation of children.

Justice Court Judge Peggy Phillips denied Triplett bond due to a hold on Triplett imposed by the Mississippi Department of Corrections stemming from a 2003 charge of attempted sexual battery. The charge, filed in Jackson County, was amended to aggravated assault in 2007, but Triplett remained on 10 years probation.

"If (MDOC) release(s) the hold, he would be entitled to a bond," said Phillips.

Triplett, who was not accompanied by a lawyer at Tuesday''s hearing, must meet with his probation officer to determine why he violated his probation, she explained. A revocation hearing before the sentencing judge will determine whether Triplett will serve time for the 2003 charge due to the recent violation.

Phillips says such revocation hearings typically do not take place immediately following a violation of probation.

Triplett, 56, of 181 Golding Road in Columbus, was the last person to see Morris, 21, before her disappearance from the Golding Road residence Sept. 17.

Explicit images of minors were found on computers seized from Triplett''s home by the Lowndes County Sheriff''s Office during the investigation into Morris'' disappearance.

Triplett was also found guilty of forcible rape in Covington, La., in December 1997 and sentenced to serve six years in prison. Those charges were remanded for rehearing in 2001 and reduced to simple battery; after the victim in the case refused to testify, the charges were dismissed.

Triplett served six months in jail and was ordered to pay the victim a settlement of $50,000. He remains in custody at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center.

LCSO officials said no evidence has surfaced to directly link Triplett to Morris'' disappearance.

Reader Comments

I think he should not be released and made to talk by any means necessary until he tells what really happened that night.

una commented at 10/8/2009 4:31:00 PM:

The FBI needs to be brought in on this cause we have so many unsolved crimes in this town that have gone on for years. No disrespect to our law enforcement, but I don't think they are equipped to handle this. The more time that goes by, the colder the case gets. They keep saying that they have nothing to directly link him to her disappearance but they do, he was the last one to see her, and I understand his sexual criminal past would be in the past but it has him in jail for now. Lord help Kaila, and bring the truth to light......Lord help Ms. Bonnie, Grandma williamson and all of them....This nightmare has to end.

a friend commented at 10/9/2009 3:16:00 AM:

The FBI has been brought in...along with the MBI. Several counties in Alabama are also helping.

pa commented at 10/9/2009 7:35:00 AM:

una,the FBI has been involved. Also our Law Enforcement is equipped to handle this, but you can't handle something if you don't have ANY evidence. I know for 100% fact that they have worked endless amounts of hours on this case searching for this girl. All I am gonna say is get you facts straight...

night and day commented at 10/9/2009 2:04:00 PM:

it is SICK AND DISGUSTING....do remember there are consequences for every choice you make...even if he receives no jail time, he will have to stand at the gates come judgement day. He'll be lucky if the other prisoners dont take justice in their own hands..He should rot in jail, NO SYMPATHY FOR CHILD PREDATORS

una commented at 10/9/2009 2:34:00 PM:

Glad to know that the Fbi and others are helping. Also I have never doubted that they aren't working over 100% trying to find out what happened. I just don't want her to be like several people who mysteriously disappeared in this town and it all hushed up because who was involved, or the murders that have to this day still gone unsolved and everyone knows the history on those are strange indeed. But Triplett knows something and he isn't saying.

night and day commented at 10/9/2009 4:03:00 PM:

i agree with Una, he is hiding something. My prayers go out to Kayla herself, may she return home safely...Our justice system is so messed up, he has past convictions and you cant treat the issues he has, he should have been in jail for a LOOONG time after the 1st incident. These type of problems just DONT GO AWAY, (not saying he's guilty or innocent in Kaylas disappearance.) but you cant sweep it under the rug and think that everything in his mind and fantasies is all hunky-dory. again my prayers are for KAYLA. God Bless You KAYLA

a friend commented at 10/10/2009 2:21:00 AM:

her name is KAILA! it may not seem that important to you but if you're going to comment about her the least you could do is get her name right.

i'm sorry if i offended you...but it's important...if you'd ever met kaila you would know that she's very touchy about her name.

night and day commented at 10/11/2009 12:36:00 PM:

thank you... however again i will state that at this point I believe God is the only one who can help her now, and he knows who we pray for regardless of the way it is spelled or mentioned... i havent had the fortunate opprutunity to meet Kaila, and im sure she was a lovely person and great friend to you and others. i do pray that God sends her home safely and that whoever did this is brought to justice, he/she will have to answer to God or burn in hell for what this person has done, I hope that you have your friend returned to you safely, may God Bless You as well as her and her mother, as a mother I could never imagine something like this happening to one of mine, it is heart-wrenching and very scary....Keep God 1st and know that he is with her and all of you wherever she/you may go